Clamping device



.Aug. 16, 1927. J- F LOUCKS CLAMPING DEVICE Filed Oct. 18, 1926 Patented Aug. 16, 1927. i 1

UNITED srmxr as PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES I. LOUCKS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, AS SIGNOB TO HOLOBIB, INC., 01 CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION 01' OHIO.

CLAMPING DEVICE.

Application filed October 18, 1928. .Serial No. 142,820.

This invention relates to clamping devices, and more particularly to devices which are adapted for the purpose of securing metal sheets to structural beams.

The general object of the invention is to provide a simple, economical, and eflicient clamping device of the character and for the purpose set forth. Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter and will be realized by the construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the drawings, wherein Fig. 1 represents a sectional view through a sheet-metal structure, showing the same secured to a structural beam by means of clamps embodying my invention; Fig. 2

a detail in plan of one of the clamps shown in the preceding view, together with a portion of the beam to which it is applied; Fig.

3 a detail in section corresponding to the line 33 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 a perspective view of the clamp.

Describing the various parts by reference characters, 1 denotes the web and 2 the flange of a structural beam. The beam may be an angle beam or a channel beam. by this beam is a building-construction unit, the same comprising a metal sheet 3 having projecting downwardly therefrom a plurality of hollow ribs, one of which is indicated at 4, the said ribs being triangular in section and the tops of the ribs being substantially closed, whereby the surface of the sheet 3 will be substantially continuous or uninterupted while the bottom of the same will bev provided with triangular ribs which are adapted to be supported upon the tops of structural beams. The details of construction of the structural units and the puroses and advantages of the same are set orth at length in the patent granted to Harry Gillet and myself on February 23, 1926, No. 1,574,586, the clampin means shown herein being particularly well adapted for securing units or sheets of this general character to and spacing them from structural beams therebeneath.

Each clamp is made of sheet metal and comprises a substantially flat base adapted to rest on top of a structural beam, a flange projecting upwardly from said base and forming at 'its top edge a support for the bottom of a metal sheet, the top edge of the said flange being provided with a pointed tongue adapted to be pressed through the Supported 7 sheet and to be bent over to secure the same agalnst the top of the flange; the flan e be- 1ng continued downwardly in a vertical y extendlng web or flange beyond one end of the said base and .being provided at its lower end with a hook adapted to enga e the under surface of one edge of the top ange of the beam, the opposite end of the base being adapted to be folded down into engagement with the opposite edge or web of the top of the beam.

The clamp is formed from a single piece of metal, the base portion referred to being shown at 5 and the'vertical flange at 6, the sald flange having the upper edge 6 ada ted to engage the bottom of the sheet 3 an the pointed tongue 7 projecting upwardly from the edge 6, the said tongue being adapted to be pressed or punched through the sheet 3 and folded down on top of the. same, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, thereby to secure the bottom of the sheet firmly against the top of the flange 6.

The base 5 projects beyond the tongue carrying end of the flange 6 and is of sufficient length to extend beyond the upper edge of the web 1 and to be bent downwardly in engagement therewith, as shown at 5 in Fig. 3. The opposite end of the base is cut away on a line approximating an S, as shown at 5*, and the metal beyond such cut is bent downwardly to form an angular projection extending from the vertical web or extension 8 of theflange 6. This projection is shown at 9 and extends from the web 8 diagonally beneath the adjacent part of the base 5, so that the end of the projection is in a vertical plane extending longitudinally of the base and approximately centrally thereof. The particular shape given to the line 5 on which the parts 8 and 9 are cut from the base 5 enables the upper ed e 9 of the projection 9 to engage the slightly inclined bottom of the flange 2 while the bend between the parts 8 and 9 is located sufficiently below the base to enable the end of the flange 2 approximately to fit the space provided between the upper end of the edge 9" and the bottom of the'part of the base thereabove, with its end in engagement with the edge 8 of the part 8. This particular arrangement and inclination. of the projection 9 which enables its inner end to lie bemath the en r l p tion of the a j ent part of the base 5 prevents the clamps when applied to the flanges 2, from being overturned by the weight of the flange 6 acting at one edge of the base, even'though the beams should be inclined longitudinally; it also secures a firm engagement between the base 5 on the one side, and the projection 9 on the other side, against the edge portion of the flange 2.

The bases 5 project a sufiicient distance beyond their flanges 6 to enable the clamps to be applied to beams the to flanges of which vary considerably in widt the length of the bases enabling flanges 5 of varying width to be struck therefrom and to engage the faces of the beam webs 1, thereby to retain the opposite ends of the clamps in engagement with the adjacent edges of the beam flanges 2.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. As an article of manufacture, a clamp adapted to fasten ametal sheet to a structural beam, said clamp comprising a base adapted to rest on top of a flange of the said beam, a vertical flange extending from said base and having a top edge adapted to engage the bottom of such sheet and provided with a tongue adapted to be passed through said sheet thereby to secure the same against such edge, the said vertical flange having a vertical extension located beyond one end of the base, said extension being provided with a projection extending beneath and spaced from the adjacent portion of the base thereby to engage the bottom of the beam flange while the base engages the top of the said beam flange.

2. As an article of manufacture, a clamp for fastening a metal sheet to a structural beam, said clamp comprising a fiat base adapted to rest on top of a flange of the said beam, a vertical flange extending from one edge of said base and having a top edge adapted to engage the bottom of such sheet and provided with a tongue adapted to be passed through said sheet thereby to secure the same against such edge, the said vertical flange having a vertical extension located beyond one end of the base, said extension being provided with a projection extendingbeneath and spaced from the adjacent portion of the base, the said extension and the projection thereof havin edges adapted to vengage the edge and the bottom of the said beam flange while the base engages the top thereof. 1

3. As an article of manufacture, a. clamp for fastening a metal sheet to a structural beam, said clamp comprising a flat base adapted to rest on to of a flan e of the said beam, a vertical ange extending from said base and having a top edge adapted to engage the bottom of such sheet and provided with a tongue adapted to be passed through said sheet thereby to secure the same against such edge, the said vertical flange having a vertical extension located beyond one end of the base, said extension being provided with a projection extending beneath and spaced from the-adjacent portion of the base and adapted to engage the bottom of the beam flange while the base rests ontop of the same, the opposite end of the base being extended beyond said vertical flange whereby it may be bent into engagement with the opposite side of the beam.

4. As an article of manufacture, a clamp for fastening a metal sheet to a structural beam, said clamp comprising a flat base adapted to rest on to of a flange of the said beam, a vertical ange extending from one edge of said base and having a top edge adapted to engage the bottom of such sheet and provided with a tongue adapted to be passed through said sheet thereby to secure the same against such edge, the said vertical flange having a vertical extension located beyond one end of the base, said extension being provided with a projection, the projection extending at an angle from such extension and beneath and spaced from the adjacent body portion of the base, the upper edge of such projection being shaped to engage the bottom of the beam flange to which the said base is applied and the end of the base opposite such projection being extended beyond the Vertical flange whereby such end of the base may be bent into engagement with the opposite side of the beam.

5. As an article of manufacture, a clamp for fastening a metal sheet to a structural beam, said clamp comprising a flat base adapted to rest on top of a flange of the said beam, a vertical flange extending from said base and having a top edge adapted to engage the bottom of such sheet and provided with a tongue adapted to be passed through said sheet thereby to secure the same against such edge, the said vertical flange having a vertical extension located beyond one end of the base. said extension being provided with a projection, the projection extending at an angle from such extension beneath and spaced from the adjacent body portion of the base, the said projection being adapted to engage the bottom of the beam flange to which the said base is applied.

6. As an article of manufacture, a clamp for fastening a metal sheet to a structural beam, said clamp comprising a flat base adapted to rest on top of the said support, a vertical flange extending from said base and having a top edge adapted to engage the bottom of such sheet and provided with a tongue adapted to be passed through said sheet thereby to secure the same against such edge, the said flange having a vertical extension which is provided at its lower end flange, the opposite end of the base being with a projection extending angularly thereextended beyond the vertical flange wherefrom beneath the adjacent part of the base, by it may be bent down into engagement 10 the said extension and the top of the said with the opposite side of said beam.

projection being adapted to engage respec- In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my tively the edge and the bottom of the beam signature.

flange with the base resting on top of such JAMES F. LOUCKS. 

